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The holidays may be over, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t be holding any more formal dinners. Indeed, with everyone fighting to cram theirs into a single month, you may have spent more time going to other people’s parties than holding any of your own. As it happens, January and February are much better months to hold parties in than December; not only are they less booked, but cabin fever will have thoroughly set in and people will be looking for excuses to get out of the house. However, you may be worrying about the party itself. How should you decorate? How many can you fit? What should you serve? These and other questions may be making you nervous about the big night. Don’t fret! Whether you are new to entertaining or have simply been pressed for time, these tips will help you to focus on the most important things for your dinner. Table Décor A beautiful table arrangement can help set the mood for any dinner, and it could help make or break your feast. If you don’t have a lot of time to focus on décor, simply head to the florist or grocery store on the day of your dinner and pick out some fresh blooms for centerpieces. All you’ll need to make the table look festive are some seasonal flowers and a few choice vases. If you want to do something extra with the vases, invest in some burlap, ribbon, or tulle to wrap around them. You could also place bowls of colorful fresh fruits like Granny Smith apples, oranges, lemons, or pomegranates on the table for a quick fix. Feel free to put some candles on the table, but don’t pick any scented ones; the smell can interfere with the taste of your food. Seating If you don’t have a lot of time on your hands, planning the seating for your dinner may not seem necessary, but it could really help your event go smoothly. Think about who you’re inviting to the party, and which guests may have things in common with others. Seating like-minded guests next to each other could create some excellent opportunities for conversation, and could help prevent any awkward lulls. It could also help avoid arguments or other awkward social moments around the dinner table. Menu This is by far the hardest and most important part of planning your dinner party. Thanks to food allergies and new diet fads, you can never be sure of what your guests will want to eat. You want to make sure that every guest is able to have something tasty on their plate, but the stress of planning out different meal options and serving them all can be too much to handle. If you want to actually enjoy the party and ensure that your guests have a good time, look into hiring a caterer and party staffing. That way, the food and serving will be taken care of, and you can focus on entertaining your guests.